Paul Pierce Retirement

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pierce was a high school McDonald's All-American before earning consensus first-team All-America honors as a junior playing college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. After being chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Pierce spent the first 15 years of his career with Boston. Pierce's nickname, 'the Truth,' was given to him by Shaquille O'Neal in 2001. He earned 10 All-Star selections and became a four-time All-NBA team member throughout his 19 year career. Pierce combined with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007 to form a 'Big Three' that led Boston to two NBA Finals and an NBA championship in 2008. Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008. In 2021, Pierce was honored by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

After leaving Boston in a July 2013 trade that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets along with Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, Pierce signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards in 2014. He played one season there before moving to the Los Angeles Clippers for two seasons. His final retirement came in 2017, but the connection to Boston never fully severed. On July 17, 2017, the Celtics signed Pierce to a contract specifically enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons. This administrative move finalized his return to the franchise that drafted him in 1998.

Reader's Guide

In July 2013, Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with teammates Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. He signed with the Washington Wizards as a free agent in 2014. After one season with the Wizards, Pierce signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent two seasons with the Clippers before retiring in 2017. On July 17, 2017, the Celtics signed Pierce to a contract, enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.

Did You Know?

• Pierce was born in Oakland, California, and grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan.
• He was cut from Inglewood High School's varsity basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years.
• Pierce participated in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game alongside Vince Carter, Stephon Marbury, and Antawn Jamison. (Kevin Garnett played in the 1994 game.)
• He ranks as the fifth-leading scorer in Kansas history (1,786 points) and 11th on the all-time rebounds list (676).
• Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008 after averaging 22 points per game over the six-game series.